Leptin and Reproduction: A review Study

Abstract

Leptin is a 16 kDa protein hormone thought to provide a metabolic link between nutritional status and reproduction in mammals. Since leptin’s discover in 1994. Leptin is a polypeptide hormone, which is primarily produced by white adipose tissue and has a role for regulating food intake and energy metabolism. Leptin is mainly made by adipose tissue, but there are another organs can produce leptin, such as, placenta, liver, skeletal muscle and stomach. Research laboratories have attempted to discover this hormone’s effects on reproduction, many data have been published in both humans and animals. Most studies show that the exogenous treatment of leptin to ob/ob mutant male and female mice restores their fertility, whereas the high levels of leptin in male or female subjects exhibits an inhibitory reproductive effects, whereas lower leptin levels are stimulatory. Therefore this study was conducted to illustrate the effects of leptin on the reproductive function in mammals